WESTHOUGHTON D hosted Deane B in Section B of the Bolton Badminton League last Friday and it was a match that turned out to be a close encounter with five games going beyond the 21-point mark.

Deane B were favourites going into thE match but found Westhoughton a determined and spirited opponent.

Linda Redford and Peter Nicholson, Westhoughton's first couple, shared the opening games winning the first 21-17, with Patricia Beck and Bharat Bhudia claiming the second, 21-14.

The second pair of games was also shared when Karen Hodgin and Dave Edwards won the first 21-17, and Deane’s first couple, Georgina Riyding and Pravin Pindolia, took the second, 21-18.

When the third couples met, eighth-placed Westhoughton’s Gaynor Parry and Chris Smith claimed both games 21-17, 21-17, against Bharhti Bhudia and Mamesh Keria.

The games were shared in the clash of the first couples, Redford and Nicholson taking the first 22-20, Ryding and Pindola reciprocated by winning the second 22-20.

The games were claimed by Westhoughton’s Hodgin and Edwards, 21-15, 21-17, when the second couples met against Beck and Bhudia.

Going into the level doubles, the match was all square at 5-5 and in the first pair of ladies’ games, third-placed Deane’s Bhudia and Ryding edged their team ahead claiming both games 21-14, 22-20, against Parry and Redford.

In the first pair of men’s games, Westhoughton’s Smith and Nicholson levelled the match, claiming both games 21-12, 21-14, against Keria and Pindolia.

The second pair of ladies' games were again shared when Deane’s Bhudia and Beck won the first, another close encounter finishing 22-20, and Westhoughton’s Parry and Hodgin took the second 21-17.

Going into the final men’s games the match was even but the determined pair of Smith and Edwards won the first 21-16, then claimed the match with yet another 22-20 result against the unfortunate Keria and Bhudia, securing a 10-8 overall win for Westhoughton.